A lobbyist for the National Rifle Association has said his group would likely oppose an initiative for expanded checks.

The NRA feels the checks would largely affect law-abiding citizens instead of criminals and the mentally ill.

Ralph Fascitelli of Washington Cease Fire gave KIRO 7 additional information Sunday night on the state initiative for expanded background checks. His organization is supporting Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, which has taken the lead on this.

Fascitelli said the state initiative campaign will be directed at state lawmakers first. If the required signatures are collected, it will be presented to state lawmakers during the session of 2014. They will have the option of voting it up or down.

If lawmakers vote it down, then it will go to a vote of the people in November of 2014.

Fascitelli said the lawmakers will have the option of changing the initiative as it is written. And there is some concern that there will be an effort to "water it down." For example, previous background check legislation has included exemptions for thousands of gun owners who already hold concealed weapons permits.